Cable-velocipede.



No. 639,240. Patented Dec. I9, l899.

J. W. HUTCHINSON. I CABLE VELOCIPEDE.

(Application file d. Ndv. 7, 1898.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets$hee11 l.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Dec. l9, I899.

J. W. HUTCHINSON.

CABLE VELOCIPEDE (Application filed Nov. '7, 1898.)

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(No Model.)

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JAMES V. HUTCIIINSON, OF MOAB, VIRGINIA.

CABLE-VELQCEPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,240, dated December 19, 1899.

' Application filed Novembef'], 1898. Serial No. 695,740. (llo model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. IIUTCHlNSON, a citizen of the United States,residingatMoab, in. the county of \Vashington and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oable-Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a cable conveyance and particularly to a velocipede form; and it consists, essentially, of a pair of cables arranged on supports at a suitable elevation above ground in parallel planes and adapted to be engaged by a four-wheeled truck having a depending frame carrying velocipede mechanism and including sprocket wheels and chains, an operators seat, a crank-shaft, and pedals.

The invention further consists of the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide means for traveling above ground containing irregular surfaces over which a railroadgrade cannot be economically constructed, and also to avoid the expense incident to laying railroad beds and tracks, and also to employ a cheap means of propulsion to avoid carrying fuel and lighten the weight of the propelling mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device arranged for operation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the truck and velocipede mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view, on a larger scale, of one of the double cable-hangers. Fig. 1 is a detail view of a slight modification, showing a part of the device adapted for use by females.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals are utilized to indicate correspondingparts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a post or upright, a series of which are arranged in alinement and provided with lower braces 2 and upper cross bars or arms 3, the latter being held rigid by means of diagonal braces 4, arranged between the same and each post or upright. The outer ends of the cross bars or arms stand a considerable distance away from the posts or uprights 1, and in each end a depending rod 5 is mounted and runs to the center of a horizontal crossbar 6, having depending from opposite ends reversed- L-shaped hangers 7, to the free ends of which cables 8 are seen red. This construction provides for a double track or two pairs of cables, and a single set of supports are utilized for the purpose.

On the cables a four-wheeled truck 9 is adapted to run, and the distance between the horizontal bars 6 and the terminating ends of the L.-shaped hangers is such that the wheels of the truck will readily pass under said bars 6 and over the ends of the said hangers. The grooves in the wheels of the truck are large enough to clear the terminating ends of the hangers, and the latter are reduced sufficiently to assist in this operation. Depending from the truck 9 are frame-posts 10, secured near opposite ends thereof and diverge gradually, and to their lower ends are attached opposite end and side bars 11 and 12 and an intermediate longitudinal supportingbar 13. Rising from the intermediate supporting-bar 13 are a pair of uprights 14, in which a crank-shaf t 15 is rotatably mounted and has thereon a sprocket 16, the outer ends of the shaft having pedal-arms 17 and carrying pedals 18, secured thereto.

As shown in the main figures and to adapt the machine for use bya male, a seat 19 is supported just above the sprocket 16 and within convenient reaching and operating distance of the pedals, A chain 19 surrounds the sprocket-wheel and runs forward to a smaller sprocket 20, connected to a larger adjacent sprocket 21, both the sprockets 20 and 21 being keyed to a shaft 22, mounted in the opposite sides of a front supplemental frame 23, and from the larger sprocket 21 a chain 24: extends upwardly to a smaller sprocket 25 on the front axle of the truck. From the foregoing it will be seen that by operating the shaft 15 motion will be transmitted through the sprockets and chains to the front axle of the truck, and the wheels on the latter are rotated and the entire device propelled on the cables 8. It will be understood in this connection that the wheels of the truck, if found necessary, may be provided with frictional rims or covering material, as will be readily understood, and to accommodate the use of the device for females a modification of the device is shown in Fig. 4:, wherein a seat is located farther to the rear, and a shield or guard 26, of a suitable nature, is mounted over the sprocket 16 to prevent contact with the clothing or garments of the female.

It is intended that the velocipede mechanism overcome any slight grades that may be encountered or may be necessary in the erection of the cables, and a very rapid movement can be attained and traveling over a rough or irregular country be easily accomplished. It will also be understood that any suitable truck-receptacles now commonly employed for various purposes might be connected up to the velocipede mechanism or the frame carrying the same and .be propelled by the devices heretofore set forth. This would be exceptionally convenient in carrying luggage or transporting freight or conveying a numberof passengers from one point to another.

The elevation of the cables 8 above the ground-surface may be varied in accordance with the topography encountered, and consequently the posts or uprights will alsobe changed to compensate for this variation. In mounting the cables they Will be drawn taut and sagging thereof prevented as much as possible, so as to reduce the power neces- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of single uprights or posts having cross-arms thereon, depending rods at opposite ends of the said arms having crossbars attached thereto, reverse-L-shaped hangers at the opposite terminations of said crossbars, cables mounted in said hangers, and a truck movable over the said cables and operated by a velocipede mechanism supported below the same.

2. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a pair of cables, of a truck movable thereon and having opposite end axles with grooved rollers to bear on the cables, the front axle being supplied with a sprocket-wheel, a depending frame comprising divergent end posts connected at their lower portions by opposite end and side bars and an intermediate longitudinally-disposed flat bar resting on the end bars, a seat located over the rear portion of said supportingbar, uprights rising from the supporting-bar adjacent the seat and having a crank-shaft therein provided with pedals and a sprocket- Wheel, a front supplemental frame having a shaft journ aled therein Wit-h a sprocket-wheel on one end and an intermediately-located smaller sprocket, a chain surrounding the sprocket-Wheel on the crank-shaft and the smaller sprocket in the supplemental frame, and a second chain running from the larger sprocket in the supplemental frame and to the sprocket-wheel on the front axle of the truck.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. I-IUTOHINSON.

Witnesses:

W. A. JOHNSTON, R. W. ROBERTS. 

